HiAndTight

The Falcons are stuck in the same rut the Packers were...with Ryan instead of Rodgers. They've got weapons, they've got a talented offense, but they don't have much on defense outside of a couple of studs like Grady Jarrett or Deion Jones(who isn't very good vs the run). But they've got enough with Ryan,Ridley and Julio to beat the Packers on any given Sunday. It's a subjective term, but I look at a trap game as a game where the other team shouldn't beat you unless you play poorly/flat. But I could see the Falcons just playing well, putting up 35+ on the Packers and winning. Also....sooner or later, a team's going to decide maybe throwing the ball after their #1 back is gashing the Packers for 10 YPC isn't the best idea on 1st down.

I have no idea what the market will look like this next year(I don't think anyone does at this point)....but to echo what I said in a previous thread, the two guys I'd like to see the Brewers bring in, Tommy La Stella and Michael Brantley. If you could get La Stella for 3/24 with an option for 10 and a buyout of 3 million, that brings it to 3/27 guaranteed. Brantley is a lot trickier to me. But he's been excellent the past two years. Both are guys who strike out at an exceptionally low rate(especially relative to who we have no). You're largely going to be counting on Yelich, Hiura, Narvaez, Garcia....to all bounce back. Hope Jed can continue to play well. I think they move on from Arcia(seems like now would be the best time as he was somewhat productive this past year and is considered a pretty good defender...if we can get something solid, deal him, otherwise let the best man win, him or Urias). It's not ideal for Brantley that he plays the OF and we have Garcia, Yelly and Cain already in play, but he can DH and perhaps Garcia can play some 1B. 1-La Stella LH/3B 2-Cain RH/CF 3-Brantley LH/OF-DH 4-Yelich RH/OF-DH 5-Hiura RH/2B 6-Garcia RH/OF-DH 7-Gyorko RH/1B(Utility) 8-Narvaez RH/C 9-Urias/Arcias RH/SS Again....not the '27 Yanks, but you add two guys who put the ball in play, hopefully a refreshed Cain looks more like he did in his first year as opposed to his 2019 season. Hiura, Urias, Narvaez and Garcia should all be significantly better next year than they were this year. I don't know how they'll fill in the 3-4-5 spots in the rotation(no small matter) but they have two guys who have pitched like good #2's and have true Ace upside, and then a number of guys with varying degrees of success. I do think this Pen will be as good as anyone's in the league next year. Especially if Houser finds his way in it and Knebel is brought back...maybe for 1 yr 3 million with incentives and then an team option for 7.5 million. He was looking like his FB velo was coming back toward the end of the year. What's really going to be interesting will be to see what some of the prospects we have look like next year. It'd be reasonable if they'd played this year to hope that Small, Ashby and others would be knocking on the door right now. So there could be some guys who could move quickly. Eric Lauer deserves another crack at it. This year was just a dumpster fire. Everything went wrong. We brought in some solid hitters who all had career worst seasons, our best players struggled. Just kinda a throw away year(like all of 2020). But I think we can easily be back and competitive next year with a potential 90 win team.

If we're spending 38 million next year, I think we'd be far better used to shore up the lineup. Now I'm not saying we're going to be the '98 Braves, but with Burnes and Woody to anchor the rotation and with the half a dozen young arms who can throw in the upper 90's, Rassmussen, Angel Perdomo who has a ton of upside yet with his delivery as a power lefty...despite obvious command issues, Topa, Knebel, Ray Black, Bobby Wahl...as well as others to go with Williams and Hader in the pen. At some point next year guys like Ashby...Brown is just one season removed from looking like he may join Burnes and Woodruff, Supak. Obviously more of unproven guys will continue to struggle than hit next year, but someone like Perdomo becoming an Amir Garrett like reliever, Knebel a full year healthy after TJ. BP of Rassmussen, Perdomo, Yardley, Topa, Houser, Peralta, Knebel, Williams, Hader That could be a truly elite BP. So...I'd definitely rather see that 38 million go to trying to add a bat(assuming we even have ~40 million to spend, which I think is unlikely). I'd much rather see the Brewers go after a Tommy La Stella type, maybe Didi if his value drops a bit from what is currently projected. And then a Michael Brantley on a 2/30 type deal. Last three years he's been healthy and productive with a slash of. 309/.368/.484 Two big time contact hitters. This assumes the DH is here to stay, but I think this could be a very competitive lineup if guys bounce back; 1-La Stella LH/3B 2-Cain RH/CF 3-Brantley LH/OF-DH 4-Yelich RH/OF-DH 5-Hiura RH/2B 6-Garcia RH/OF-DH 7-Gyorko RH/1B(Utility) 8-Narvaez RH/C 9-Urias/Arcias RH/SS That's not the '27 Yanks, but you add two guys who VERY seldom strikeout and who have hit well the last couple years, Yelich is almost certainly going to bounce back, Narvaez you would assume would as well as Garcia. That's a good lineup and if those guys play like they played in 2019, it could be a good lineup.

The kid was still just 22 years old, a top 20 prospect coming into 2019 and having a good Spring Training when he broke his hamate bone, a notoriously tough bone to break for a hitter to come back from and regain their swing that year. It'd just seem incredibly foolish to move on from one of the few young talents we have and one who plays a premier position because he's been bad in a year when the whole team was bad. The Dodgers may be able to throw away 23 year old SS's with his potential...the Brewers sure can't. Lets at least let the kid play a full healthy season before throwing him out. I think people forget, he was the top 2B prospect in the game and came with a 70 hit tool. https://data.prospectslive.com/index.php/2018/07/18/digging-data-the-power-potential-of-luis-urias/ On a team that ran out Sogard, Holt, Smoak, Morrison...among others, the only guys I'd give more rope than this kid would be Yelich and Hiura.

Converting him to a WR. Seriously though, highly doubtful they'd carry 2 kickers just to have one for kickoffs. Possible Crosby is nicked up, more likely just due diligence/updating emergency lists. They've been bringing in guys at every position all year...even FB's. It's just smart. If Covid spreads, it'd be nice to be able to go out and get a kicker who was cut despite hitting 84 pct of his FG's, is a free agent. Plus, he has been a punter in the past. And despite Crosby's TB pct...which is at a career high, he does look as though he's lost a little bit of leg strength. Not surprising at age 36, but it could be an ancillary benefit if the Packers do need him for a game or two.

They said the same thing about baseball a week into the season. In fact, I think people were a lot less optimistic than 50/50. There's way too much money on the line for them not to see this through all the way, and they will. If they have to push the Super Bowl back to March, it gets pushed back to March. These are not unexpected developments. This was never going to go perfectly. Yeah, that's true, but that doesn't mean Football isn't in trouble. You have over twice the roster size, it's in the fall(remember the Summer was supposed to be the healthy time) so the likelihood of the virus spreading is worse...

Based on what? The Dodgers sure as hell don't want or need him. The Angels aren't a playoff team and if they were, they're STILL starting Pujols at 1st so Ohtani can start. I don't think he's going to go out to the East Coast suddenly. Maybe Oakland. We have a pretty good idea that IF he plays it'll be Cali or maybe AZ. So of the teams that could or would want him, the Brewers have likely as good of a shot as any of making a WS run.

I think if you can get him for 2-3 million you definitely do it I think. Even with the financial implications. I'm sure they have a better idea of what exactly is going on with his back though and if they believe he can give them ~400-450 healthy PA's, that's worth it as a DH/1B. I'd imagine he'd be asking for a 1/8 type deal and if he doesn't get it, he'll retire. Maybe he even comes back later next year if the Brewers have another Smoak like situation. Either way, I'm guessing he's done as a Brewer.

The NFL has plans and reserved rooms and facilities for 4 weeks after the SB. So while I'm sure it'd cause problems, they've anticipated playing the game a month later than it's currently scheduled to be played.

I never saw one that said the year, just indefinitely and then 8 weeks. This has to be a sports hernia, right? It's hard to imagine another core injury that you'd have surgery on and be back in 2 months.

Mariners adding 3 or 4 relievers means they add them on 1, 1+1 or 2 year deals and then trade them in the summer if they're performing well. Hader makes less than zero sense for them and isn't going to happen. Right, they make a lot more sense for a Knebel should the Brewers decline to offer and not reach a compromise. Hader's market is suppressed because he only has value for teams that think they're a dominant reliever away. That's not Seattle(though they have done dumber things). I haven't followed this thread that closely, but I wonder if Tampa would be a team that may be interested? Obviously it wouldn't be the type of move they'd normally make, but if they fall short...they have a great farm system and Hader's still not going to be cheap enough for them. Hader for Baz, Josh Lowe and Taylor Walls? Haven't seen them mentioned, but it adds a high upside arm, a power bat without a definitive position and a young SS. The 86th ranked prospect and the Rays 5th, 10th and 17th ranked players. The Rays probably wouldn't be interested, but maybe this is there "all in" type move....

Yeah...he does a ton. He'll seal the edge and block down on a Cam Jordan one play, then beat Lattimore over the top on the next. I think the Packers struggle in this one if Julio plays. Ridley's been a stud this year and while they've choked BADLY, they've also blown out Dallas and Chicago in the 1st half.

18 weeks seems inevitable. That added revenue could make up for the lost revenue due to Covid and the NFL has already implemented some steps that could help make it safer. The expanded roster, the practice squad.... I think 2 pre-season games, 18 regular season games...maybe even stick with the playoff schedule. The NFLPA is going to want to see the cap adjusted upward more than it's projected to be this year and the owners have the 18 game season to dangle over their heads now... If it doesn't happen after Covid, not sure it'll happen anytime.

Leonard Floyd is a Ram now. They signed Robert Quinn to take his spot. Point is the same, though. Yes, of course. Just typed that without thinking.

Yeah, EQ has a ton of upside and he's been here for going on 3 years now and just turned 24 years old two days ago. I think LaFleur deserves the benefit of the doubt at this point. I just saw a list of WR'ers the Packers should sign. Dez Bryant was on the list, Taylor Gabriel, Jordan Matthews, Cody Lattimer...and.....Antonio Brown! As much as I'd love to see Antonio Brown, he seems best left to a Madden team(as long as Seattle doesn't end up with him). Two more realistic targets though...Corey Davis from Tenn. A big WR'er, a former 1st who MLF coached. And Steve McClendon from the Jets. Davis might not come cheap as he's been productive, but he's been rumored to be available. McClendon should be a conditional 6th, but he's a very steady, solid interior DL. The guy who I'd really like to see is Quinnin Williams, another guy who's been rumored to be available, though I imagine the Jets would be looking for at least a 2nd+ after taking him 3rd just two years ago. But he would be the ideal DE next to Clark and hopefully Keke.

He was screwing around and joking after the game... Maybe they figured rather than screw around like they did with Tonyan last year, never get back to 100 pct, but come back in 4-5 weeks, they just try to get it fully healed so he's back for the last ~5 games. That is a brutal loss though. He's such a good blocker it's like having a TE in there(who can burn Lattimore and Jenkins as he did on that stumbling catch last week).

A year ago I probably would have scoffed at this proposal, but honestly - I'd sign up for this type of package now as I just don't think we are going to get that huge prospect haul like we all hoped we would get. In fact, a package of Gonsolin, Rios and Busch might get laughed at by the Dodgers front office, as they may not even want to give up that much for a reliever (even one that's been as good as Hader). I think we have to hope that Josh has a great series this week against the Dodgers, just to remind them of how good he can be. Then, I think we have to hope the Dodgers blow another opportunity to win it all over the next month - with their pen showing it's warts. If those things happen, maybe we could get them to do a deal like this? Gonsolin seems like the exact pitcher the Brewers would target. A stater with a mid 90's fastball and a high spin rate...and he's proven he can be an effective starter. If I'm the Dodgers, I don't know that I'd trade him for a reliever, but that has been the one area they're not totally dominant, so if they'd do it, I'd definitely make that deal. And then I'd bring Knebel back. He looked like he was starting to regain his form later in the year. Maybe we work out an incentive laden deal and give him the first chance to win the closers job. I'm not sure how much we'd lose from Knebel to Hader(particularly if the prior is back to pitching like he has). But we'd have 3 power pitchers in our rotation. And if you can add a couple of guys who can become good hitters... Not sure I'd do this is I were the Dodgers...give up a young pitcher who's pitched well, but if they can't win this year...maybe they're desperate enough.

By really good defense I assume you mean the 49ers as I don't think there is another team in the NFC that fits that definition. If the Packer offense that we've seen so far is the real deal there isn't another defense other than the 49ers in our conference that should be able to keep us out of the 30s. I'll be interested to see how the 49ers defense matches up with all the injuries against a team that isn't a really bad Saquon-less Giants team. Not sure the 49'ers are all that elite of a defense without Bosa, Buckner and Thomas. I think the Bears are a better defense, even with Goldman opting out. Hicks is a Kenny Clark type talent, Mack and Floyd are pretty damn good. But I don't know if there are any defenses on the level of last years 49'ers team or the Bronco's when they dominated the Packers a few years ago with Von, Chris Harris, Roby and Talib.

I'd be inclined to agree with you, but it's so hard for me to tell with some of them. Andy Reid looked very similar to Mike McCarthy at the end of his time in Philly...now with all the weapons he has, he's again viewed as one of the great offensive minds in the game. I'd be curious who you'd put on that list. Does Nagy or Zimmer make the list? I think they're both really good coaches. BB,Reid, Tomlin, McDermott, Harbaugh, Carroll, McVay, Shannahan, Payton. Zimmer...not sure if he belongs in here, but he's done pretty damn well in Minny. Vrabel, Matt LaFleur, Florres it might be too early to tell. And there's a bunch of guys I can't figure out, Pederson among them. Nagy as well. One seems like he's constantly dealing with injuries while the other might be among the top of the list if his team doesn't needlessly trade up and draft Trubisky and instead grabs Mahomes or Watson. I definitely think teams are wise to keep digging into that Shannahan tree though. I can't imagine what this team would look like with McCarthy as a head coach...and I thought he was a good coach, but he'd just been here too long. Seems pretty obvious that at least thus far, LaFleur's getting the absolute most out of the talent that he has.

Maybe. I was at the Meadowlands when they played the Packers and I saw the arm strength, pocket awareness, feet. It's really hard to evaluate a QB when they're in a horrible situation like he's in. That said, I don't think they pass on Lawrence, nor would any of the other contenders for the #1 pick. I totally agree. But he's done in NY. The "I'm seeing Ghosts," really killed him. Jets fans can't seem to let that go. But it's amazing to me how many QB's are ruined and out of the league or at least afterthoughts in just 2-3 years. Josh Rosen played for probably the least talented teams both of his years in the NFL. A former top 10 pick is now out of the league at 23 years old. I think Sam Darnold absolutely has the potential to be a very good QB. Look at what Bell did when he went to the Jets? He had by far his worst season. But Darnold needs to go somewhere and sit for 2 years, learn an offense and get comfortable. Maybe the Colts(though he wouldn't be sitting there). But a team with a really good OL and some weapons and I think he could be very good. He was 7-6 with that dumpster fire that is the Jets roster last year. But I think if you get a top 5 pick, you pick Fields or Lance and if you get the top pick...it's a no-brainer. Get Lawrence and dump Gase.

Their Oline has been stellar to start the year - guessing it sure helped to have no crowds for their 1st two road games. Vikes' stadium and the SuperDome are not great spots for road O-lines...although key injuries to Viking and Saint Dlinemen undoubtedly helped them out, too. It's been incredible. I didn't even notice that Billy Turner was in there at RT last week. Most of us thought this offense would be better in year two, but I don't believe anyone when they said this type of performance was coming. Even in the threat I made that said Aaron Rodgers would have an MVP like year...I didn't really believe it. I was absolutely wrong on Bulaga though. I thought Turner would be brutal at RT. He played there this past week and I didn't even notice until half way through the game. Wagner's been a stud. Being able to run that outside zone and then run so much play action off of that has opened up this entire offense. And of course Rodgers being able to play with defenses has been a big advantage. 1 False start vs 5 off-side penalties, several of which have resulted in 1st downs and big plays.

That's why I made a thread at that time asking what people thought about it...knowing that people would really bash the Packers if Watt became a stud. Most people were happy with trading back and taking King when there were 4 players available that all had similar grades at positions of need. I was fine with it at the time because we needed corners so badly. Obviously with the benefit of hindsight, TJ Watt was the right choice(this is an understatement), but we have a very good young group of pass rushers right now and King has developed into a pretty good corner. Actually, I think it was obvious that TJ Watt was gonna be a stud about 2 weeks into that season. Even as he got off to a slow start, he made a Madden-esque like leaping pick when they threw the ball into the flat to a guy about 10 yards behind Watt and he just snared it.

It may be worth the hands team putting their kicker over there and just telling him to boot that squib ball straight out of bounds. Don't even mess with trying to recover it or wait passively to see whether it gets 10 yards downfield or not I believe that’s a penalty ... you can’t intentionally kick a loose ball. It's a penalty, but I don't believe they get to kick again. Teams used to be able to kick again if they kicked the ball out of bounds...even onside kicks.

It may be worth the hands team putting their kicker over there and just telling him to boot that squib ball straight out of bounds. Don't even mess with trying to recover it or wait passively to see whether it gets 10 yards downfield or not It took me about 3 times reading this to figure out what you were saying...but yeah, that makes a lot of sense. That rule would be changed next year, but it's a good idea. Though I'd rather see the athletes try to bat the ball out of bounds.

Yeah, it could be huge. The Saints are a loaded team. You take away a WR'er who had 150 catches last season... But now IF things go well, they'd most likely have to come through GB...that's not gonna help Brees noodle arm out much.